![ANDERSEN, Hans Christian (1805-1875). Autograph letter signed ('H.C. Andersen') to an unidentified female recipient [?the translator Lucie, Lady Duff Gordon], Sabloniere Hotel, Leicester Square, [London], n.d. [? August 1847], in German, warmly thanking her for her renewed invitation ('wie sind Sie herzens gut!'), excusing himself for not having come on 31 July as he was obliged to attend a children's party that day ('es war am Hause eine Kinderfeste und ich muste [sic] dabei sein'); he is leaving for a few days in the country as the strain of London life is making him ill ('Ich gehe Dienstage auf dem Lande, denn ich bin halb krank, ich kan [sic] das leben in London nicht aushalten') and concluding with renewed thanks ('ich Sehe, Sie sind mir gut, sonst wollen Sie nicht mehr schreiben, nicht mehr mich einladen!), 3 pages, small 4to (approx 90 x 112mm), bifolium (lower half of both leaves roughly excised, with loss of text); pasted onto an album leaf with three other items. Pr](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2011/CSK/2011_CSK_03013_0217_000(andersen_hans_christian_autograph_letter_signed_to_an_unidentified_fem124859).jpg?w=1)
Details
ANDERSEN, Hans Christian (1805-1875). Autograph letter signed ('H.C. Andersen') to an unidentified female recipient [?the translator Lucie, Lady Duff Gordon], Sabloniere Hotel, Leicester Square, [London], n.d. [? August 1847], in German, warmly thanking her for her renewed invitation ('wie sind Sie herzens gut!'), excusing himself for not having come on 31 July as he was obliged to attend a children's party that day ('es war am Hause eine Kinderfeste und ich muste [sic] dabei sein'); he is leaving for a few days in the country as the strain of London life is making him ill ('Ich gehe Dienstage auf dem Lande, denn ich bin halb krank, ich kan [sic] das leben in London nicht aushalten') and concluding with renewed thanks ('ich Sehe, Sie sind mir gut, sonst wollen Sie nicht mehr schreiben, nicht mehr mich einladen!), 3 pages, small 4to (approx 90 x 112mm), bifolium (lower half of both leaves roughly excised, with loss of text); pasted onto an album leaf with three other items. Provenance: from the album of Hope Fairfax Taylor (see following lot).
Andersen's first visit to England in the summer of 1847 was a triumphal success -- exhaustingly so for the writer, particularly in view of his limited grasp of English. The writer and translator Lucie Duff Gordon (a cousin once removed of Hope Fairfax Taylor, in whose album the letter was found) had translated 'The Little Mermaid' in Bentley's magazine shortly before Andersen's arrival in London, and at least one other letter to her that summer on the subject of a meeting survives (Sotheby's, 8 December 1999, lot 150).
Andersen's first visit to England in the summer of 1847 was a triumphal success -- exhaustingly so for the writer, particularly in view of his limited grasp of English. The writer and translator Lucie Duff Gordon (a cousin once removed of Hope Fairfax Taylor, in whose album the letter was found) had translated 'The Little Mermaid' in Bentley's magazine shortly before Andersen's arrival in London, and at least one other letter to her that summer on the subject of a meeting survives (Sotheby's, 8 December 1999, lot 150).
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 20% will be added to the buyer's premium, which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.
Sale room notice
Please note this lot has been withdrawn.